Belt conveyor side rail

Abstract

A conveyor side rail consisting of a rack and pinion assembly; a first side rail section having lateral sides, having a longitudinal end, and having a hollow space between the lateral sides, the rack and pinion assembly being housed within the hollow space, the hollow space opening laterally for application of torque for pinion rotation, the hollow space further opening longitudinally for alternate rack extension and retraction; a second side rail section having a longitudinal end; a telescoping slide channel and slide ridge assembly interconnecting the first and second side rail sections, the slide channel and slide ridge assembly aligning the first and second side rail sections so that the hollow space's longitudinal opening faces the second side rail section's longitudinal end; and a releasable lock further interconnecting the first and second side rail sections.

We claim:  
     
       1. A conveyor side rail comprising: 
       (a) a rack and pinion assembly;  
       (b) a first side rail section having lateral sides, having a longitudinal end, and having a hollow space between the lateral sides, the rack and pinion assembly being housed within the hollow space, the hollow space opening laterally for application of torque for pinion rotation, the hollow space further opening longitudinally for alternate rack extension and retraction;  
       (c) a second side rail section having a longitudinal end;  
       (d) telescoping means interconnecting the first and second side rail sections, said means aligning said sections so that the hollow space's longitudinal opening opens toward the second side rail section's longitudinal end; and,  
       (e) releasable locking means further interconnecting the first and second side rail sections.  
     
     
       2. The conveyor side rail of  claim 1  further comprising spindle mounting means connected operably to the first side rail section or connected operably to the second side rail section. 
     
     
       3. The conveyor side rail of  claim 2  wherein the spindle mounting means comprises an axle or an axle receiving aperture. 
     
     
       4. The conveyor side rail of  claim 1  further comprising pinion rotating means connected operably to the rack and pinion assembly. 
     
     
       5. The conveyor side rail of  claim 4  wherein the pinion rotating means comprises a non-circular aperture or a prismatic lug, said aperture or lug being accessible through the hollow space's lateral opening. 
     
     
       6. The conveyor side rail of  claim 5  further comprising a wrench connectable operably to the non-circular aperture or connectable operably to the prismatic lug. 
     
     
       7. The conveyor side rail of  claim 1  wherein the hollow space further opens oppositely from the hollow space's lateral opening, and further comprising a rack and pinion retaining plate removably covering said further opening. 
     
     
       8. The conveyor side rail of  claim 1  wherein the telescoping means comprises a longitudinally extending slide channel operably connected to or formed wholly with the first or second side rail sections. 
     
     
       9. The conveyor side rail of  claim 8  wherein the telescoping means further comprises a longitudinally extending slide ridge nestingly received by the longitudinally extending slide channel, the longitudinally extending slide ridge being operably connected to the first or second side rail sections. 
     
     
       10. The conveyor side rail of  claim 9  wherein the longitudinally extending slide channel comprises a “T” channel, wherein the longitudinally extending slide ridge comprises a helically threaded “T” nut, and wherein the operable connection of the slide ridge to the first or second side rail sections and the releasable locking means comprise at least a first helically threaded bolt threadedly engaging the helically threaded “T” nut.